Published: 17.10.2026
The .au extension is the country-code domain of Australia, and it is the national address for organisations and projects that serve Australian customers. Australia is a country and a continent in the southern hemisphere, and English is its main language. A name in .au tells visitors at once where a business or community is based. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .au is still free.
Check if a .au domain is available .au Check
A short history
The Australian national zone developed as the country's businesses, universities and public bodies moved online. For many years it served a mix of technology firms, local shops and community groups, and it has grown steadily since then. Several second-level zones sit under .au, such as com.au and net.au, each with its own purpose. The policies are updated from time to time, so check the current conditions before you register.
Who runs it
The rules for the .au zone are set by auDA, the .au Domain Administration, which accredits the registrars that sell names to the public. Registrars take orders from customers and handle the registration on their behalf under that framework. Because the policy comes from one authority, the official rules are the main reference for eligibility and for the conditions of each second-level zone.
Rules in practice
- Eligibility: some .au zones have rules that depend on the holder's connection to Australia, so check the current policy before you order.
- Second-level zones: names in com.au, net.au and similar zones may follow different rules from a plain .au name.
- Registrant details: the information you give must be accurate, and it may be checked when the policy requires it.
- Length and characters: labels use letters, digits and hyphens, and can be up to 63 characters long.
Who uses .au
- Australian businesses of every size, from family firms to national companies.
- Shops, trades, hospitality venues and professional services that serve local customers.
- Clubs, schools, sporting bodies and community groups with an Australian audience.
- Travel and regional tourism projects that want to show a local address to visitors.
Strengths
- A .au address signals a clear Australian base, which helps local customers recognise the business at once.
- Search engines can use the country-code ending as one hint about the audience, so Australian content may match local searches well.
- The ending is familiar on signs, vehicles and printed materials, so it needs little explanation.
Things to keep in mind
- An .au name points to Australia, so a business that serves customers in many countries may also need a generic address.
- Some .au zones have eligibility rules, and a holder may not qualify for every option.
- Common names are often taken, so think about a descriptive or local wording.
- Customers in other countries may type .com out of habit, so consider owning both names if you can.
Tips before you register
- Check the same name in .com and decide whether you need both addresses.
- Register with the exact business name and details that appear in your official records.
- Check whether the wording could clash with an existing trademark before you use it publicly.
- Host the site close to Australian visitors so that pages load quickly.
- Set SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before the domain sends any e-mail.
Frequently asked questions
Can an overseas company register a .au name? It depends on the current eligibility rules for the zone you want, so check them before you order.
Is com.au the same as .au? No. Both sit within the Australian namespace, but com.au is a second-level zone with its own rules and purpose.
Does .au help a site appear in Australian search results? It is a useful local signal, but clear Australian content, fast pages and genuine local links usually matter more.
